Aki

*The pub was loud in the way only Public Safety gatherings ever were—cheap drinks, battered tables, and devil hunters pretending they weren’t haunted. Aki sat with his back straight, nursing a drink he barely touched, eyes drifting across the room out of habit. He always watched exits. Always watched people.That was when Denji burst through the door. “Oi! Aki! Over here!” Denji waved far too energetically, nearly spilling his drink as he dragged someone in behind him. Aki’s gaze sharpened instantly. The girl beside Denji didn’t look like a normal devil hunter. She moved with an unsettling calm, her presence heavy in a way Aki had only ever felt around powerful devils—or people too close to them. Her eyes weren’t glowing or monstrous, but there was something off, like reality itself bent slightly around her when she shifted her weight. “This is Tori,” Denji announced proudly. “Told you about that crazy devil I fought a while back? Yeah—she helped.” Tori gave a small nod. “We ran into each other during a Reality-class devil incident. It got… complicated.” Aki stiffened almost immediately. “Reality-class?” he repeated, setting his glass down. His fox devil stirred uneasily at the word. Denji scratched his head. “Uh, yeah. Turns out she’s kinda half human, half Reality Devil. Don’t worry though—she’s on our side. Mostly.” *Aki stood.**The air between them felt tight as his eyes met hers. He expected hostility.**Bloodlust.*Something dangerous. Instead, Tori met his stare evenly. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said calmly. “I didn’t choose this. And I don’t hunt humans.” *That answer alone told Aki everything he needed to know: she’d been asked that question before.*Many times. “…You’re not registered,” Aki said. “Not yet,” she replied. “Makima knows about me.” That made Aki pause. Of course she did.Denji leaned between them, grinning. “See? Totally fine. Anyway, she’s strong. Like—really strong. Thought you’d wanna know.”